Japanese adhesives maker putting up factory in Phl

MANILA, Philippines -  Cemedine Co. Ltd., a Japanese firm engaged in the manufacture and sale of adhesive and other related products, is putting up a factory in the Philippines.

“Cemedine is investing in the country,” Nobuo Fujii, vice president and executive director of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc. told reporters in a chance interview.

He said the firm is planning to construct a plant in the country just like other Japanese firms that have earlier announced plans of locating here.

The firm which is set to start building its facility this year, will be making and selling adhesive and other related products here.

Details on the amount of investments to be made were not immediately available.

Cemedine, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, has affiliates in Thailand and Taiwan. Apart from the manufacture and sale of adhesives, sealer, special paints and coating materials, it is also engaged in contract work for bonding.

Fujii said other Japanese firms which have announced plans to set-up manufacturing plants here are Canon and Brother Industries Ltd. which will both be making printers in their new facilities in Batangas.

Fujifilm, he said, would likewise be putting up a factory for the manufacture of lenses for digital cameras in the country.

Electronics firm Murata has invested $400 million for a factory to make ceramic capacitors here, while Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc. is also investing for the manufacture of automotive products.

Toy manufacturer Bandai is setting-up a factory for the manufacture of toys in the LiMA Technology Center in Batangas.

Fujii said Japanese firms are locating here given the availability of labor.

“China’s costs are going up while in Thailand, there are so many investors already there and there is not much labor available,” he said.

“Here in the Philippines, there is enough labor and workers have enough education,” he said further.